Markey, Gomez ramp up voter appeals in Senate race

BOSTON (AP) — Republican Gabriel Gomez and Democrat Edward Markey are gearing up for the final rush to Election Day, highlighting key issues they hope will persuade voters to support them.

Gomez met with women voters in Boston on Wednesday while Markey shook hands with commuters and Red Sox fans in Kenmore Square near Fenway Park.

Gomez again said that while he personally opposes abortion he would not try to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal. He said he would work to help women make economic gains and faulted Markey for not doing enough during his 37 years in Congress to improve Social Security and overhaul immigration and tax policies.

Gomez also said he has the skills to bring together a coalition of lawmakers to make good on his pledge to push through term limits for members of Congress — a move that would require an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

"If a Navy SEAL can talk a Peace Corps volunteer into marrying him I think I can accomplish almost anything," Gomez said referring to his wife. "I can work with Democrats. I can work with Republicans. I can work with independents."

Markey opposes term limits, pointing to long-serving members of the Senate, including the late Edward Kennedy who died in 2009 after nearly half a century in office.

"No one ever said that Ted Kennedy was not effective. No one ever said that Ted Kennedy wasn't fighting with every ounce of his fiber for health care and education," Markey said. "Term limits occur every day that you have an election."

Markey said his support for so-called women's issues goes beyond abortion rights. He said women are entitled to make more than 77 cents on the dollar compared to men for the same work.

Markey also defended high-profile visits by President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton to stump for him in Massachusetts.

"I'm a little bit like the Bruins. I'm not taking it for granted. I am going to go right up to the final minute of election night," he said.

Markey is getting another high-powered visit Saturday when Vice President Joe Biden attends a Markey rally at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth.

Gomez's campaign has brought Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to Boston.

Also Wednesday, Markey released eight years of state and federal tax returns showing he has reported his home address each year as 7 Townsend Street in Malden. Markey had previously released the returns to reporters, but his home address had been redacted.

After Tuesday's final Senate debate, Markey agreed to release the returns with the address included to counter charges from Republicans that he really lives in Maryland. He blamed the decision to redact his address on his accountant.

"If Markey has lived in the same Malden home for 64 years, why don't his neighbors even know he lives on their street?" Dayspring said.

America Rising, a Washington-based political action committee created earlier this year to help elect Republican candidates, filed a complaint with the Maryland Comptroller asking for a review of Maryland residency law and public information which they said indicates Markey may owe Maryland taxes.

Gomez also said, "If he lives in Maryland he should pay taxes in Maryland."

Markey insists his home is Malden.

"I've lived in Malden, Massachusetts my entire life," he said. "My job is to represent Massachusetts in Washington the same way that Scott Brown did, the same way that Ted Kennedy did ... that's the job, but I live in Malden. That's my home. That's where I pay my taxes."